W9.1 — Where does it live?
Criticalities Prompt Questions
Fig 1. Prompt Questions-Criticalities. Image by Sue.
Fig 2. Displaying instructions and Criticalities. Image by Sue.
As we have settled down on the design and our target audience, it was time for us to think about where our design lives. There was a discussion with David whether we would like to utilise it for educational purposes or as an artefact in a gallery space.
For me it made more sense for the design work to be an educational purpose. Blockchain technology itself is not easy to understand or grasp the concept immediately. Therefore, the materialisation of the complexity and obscurity still needs clarification and guidance as they are unclear for the target audiences. Furthermore, if we were to question the criticalities on each layer I thought it is crucial for people to understand the structure clearly. David disagreed on making the experience educational but rather to present it as an exhibition. He had the opinion that we do not have the responsibility to explain the operation to the people but to deliver the critical object for them to reflect on. Yet, I thought in order to reflect, they would need to have some level of understanding over each layer which then requires guidance and education of the blockchain system we have built. Educate then reflect. For example, if it was not an exhibition, I imagined it to be placed inside a walk in cryptocurrency centre, an expo or even an university that focuses on blockchain (fig 3). It was more to bring in the conversation around the emerging technology rather than showcasing as an artwork.
When David said our design can be for an exhibition, I imagined and thought it would be part of an exhibition related to emerging technologies - placed around other artworks or designs. So to think about where our design can be part of specifically. However, David argued that our prototype should be presented as a solo exhibition. Then I questioned if our design work would be placed inside a certain space or if it could be experienced outside as an installation. For me, it was more of a question how people would find out about the exhibition and how our target audience would reach the location.
Fig 3. Mood board - where does it live. Image by Sue and David.
Tutorial
During the tutorial with Mor, I have discussed where our design work can live. She agreed that the core of the design is the power of discussion. The final is more than just the design of the object but its the conversation that is done around it. She suggested developing the idea into a workshop that is with at least five people and runs for an hour.
After the tutorial, we had another discussion regarding the above. David strongly insisted on making our design as a workshop. He questioned why people would like to join a workshop. I thought this was a question that has been already answered as we have defined our target audience as people who are not aware of the hidden operation of blockchain technology (but uses blockchain application) and those who have interest and urge to learn about it. I really believed the workshop is not only about educating but bringing in the conversation with a group of people to discuss and reflect. Also I thought it is a good way to evaluate and measure how successful the design is that we have made. Still, he did not see the reason why it needs to be used in a workshop to educate people. Also, he did not want any educational element in our design. It was just a big NO for him. Maybe I wasn’t convincing enough?